National Development and Reform Commission

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) is the third-ranked executive department of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, which functions as a macroeconomic management agency. Established as the State Planning Commission, the NDRC has broad administrative and planning control over the economy of mainland China, and has a reputation of being the "mini-state council".

History

The body was first established in November 1952 as the State Planning Commission of the Central People's Government. It was modeled after Gosplan. Gao Gang was its first director. In 1954, it was transformed to the State Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China. The NDRC's functions are to study and formulate policies for economic and social development, maintain the balance of economic development, and to guide restructuring of the economic system of mainland China.

In March 1998, the commission was renamed into the State Development Planning Commission. It was renamed again in March 2003 to its current name, the National Development and Reform Commission.

In 2005, the NDRC issued a circular economy-focused policy document requiring maximization of recycling and reuse of wastewater, exhaust gas, and water residue generated during mining and smelting.

In 2008, the NDRC issued a set of policies designed to further development the economies of central regions of China, consistent with the Hu-Wen administration's efforts to balance regional development.

In 2016, the NDRC and Alibaba Group signed an agreement to promote rural e-commerce development.

In 2017, the NDRC announced the creation of China's national carbon emissions trading system.

Prior to 2018, it was also responsible for enforcing China's antitrust law, but this function has been transferred to the State Administration for Market Regulation as part of the deepening the reform of the Party and state institutions. In February 2015, the NDRC completed an investigation into Qualcomm, finding that violated the Anti-Monopoly Law by imposing unreasonable requirements for patent licensing. Qualcomm was fined the equivalent of US$975 million. Also in 2018, the NDRC's climate policymaking functions were transferred to the newly created Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

On 19 December 2020, the NDRC published rules for reviewing foreign investment on national security grounds. The rules allow government agencies "to preview, deny and punish foreign investment activities in areas that are deemed as important to national security." In October 2021, the NDRC published rules restricting private capital in "news-gathering, editing, broadcasting, and distribution."

On 4 September 2023, the NDRC announced it established the Private Economy Development Bureau in order monitor the country's private economy, as well as establish regular communication with private businesses.

Functions

The NDRC is China's main macroeconomic control institution, as well as the top organization in the State Council in matters related to economic policymaking. It oversees the planning system in China, including producing the Chinese Communist Party's five-year plans. The NDRC has responsibilities over economic targets, price policies, market policies, supply-side structural reform, overseas investment, domestic investment policy, regional development strategies, industrial development strategies, major infrastructure projects, consumption policy, innovation-driven development, scientific and technological infrastructure, high-tech industries, social development, basic public services and social development. NDRC's responsibility for large infrastructure is intended to prevent the economy from becoming too hot or cold, as well as to address China's overcapacity in production for sectors like aluminum, iron, steel, and energy.

The NDRC works with other departments to formulate policies, including drafting laws and regulations. It monitors Chinese businesses' outbound foreign direct investment to ensure they do not invest in blacklisted projects. The NDRC must approve sensitive projects, including projects in countries that do not recognize the People's Republic of China, projects in countries experiencing civil war or other major domestic difficulties, or projects involving sensitive subject matter like cross-border water issues or weapons production.

The NDRC works with the National Health Commission to research demographic trends and formulate policies on population. It promotes sustainable development strategies. The NDRC is involved in the foreign aid process through coordinating aid to other countries for climate cooperation. The NDRC is also one of the main government agencies responsible for data collection for the Chinese Social Credit System. The NDRC's Social Development Division has a planning role in cultural industries including sports, tourism, and mass media.

The NDRC manages the General Offices several leading groups, including the National Defense Mobilization Commission, the State Council Leading Group for Western Development, and the State Council Leading Group for the Revitalization of Old Industrial Bases in Northeast China; all of these are led by the premier. It also hosts the General Offices of the State Council Leading Group for Promoting the Belt and Road Initiative, the Leading Group for Coordinated Development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region, the Leading Group for Promoting the Development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the Leading Group for Promoting the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the Leading Group for Promoting Comprehensive Deepening of Reform and Opening in Hainan; these are led by the first-ranking vice premier, with the NDRC chairman usually being the Office director.

Structure

The the National Development and Reform Commission has the following structure:

List of ministers

Officially, the candidate for the chairperson of the NDRC is nominated by the premier of the State Council, who is then approved by the National People's Congress or its Standing Committee and appointed by the president. The commission has been chaired by Zheng Shanjie since March 2023.

Internal organization

General Office
Policy Research Office
Development Strategy and Planning Department
National Economic Affairs Department
Economic Operation Regulation Bureau
Department of System Reform
Fixed Asset Investment Department
Private Economic Development Bureau
Department of Foreign Investment and Overseas Investment (Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Office)
Department of Regional Coordinated Development (Office of the Central Leading Group for Regional Coordinated Development)
Regional Development Division
Department of Regional Openness (Office of the Leading Group for Promoting the Construction of the Belt and Road Initiative)
Rural Economy Department
Department of Infrastructure Development (Office of the Leading Group for Promoting the Development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt)
Low-altitude Economic Development Department
Department of Industrial Development
Department of Innovation and High Technology Development
Department of Resources Conservation and Environmental Protection
Social Development Department
Employment, Income Distribution and Consumption Department
Economic and Trade Department
Department of Finance, Banking and Credit Construction
Price Department
Regulatory Department
International Cooperation Department
Personnel Department
Department of Economic and Defense Coordination Development
Evaluation and Supervision Department
Party Committee
Retired Cadres Bureau

Bureaus under the NDRC

National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration (Vice-Ministerial Level)
National Energy Administration (Vice-Ministerial Level)
National Bureau of Statistics (Vice-Ministerial Level)

Directly affiliated institutions

State Information Center (National E-Government Extranet Management Center)
China Macroeconomic Research Institute
Office Service Center
Infrastructure Property Management Center
Training Center (Publicity Center)
Price Certification Center
Research Center for Coordinated Development of Economy and Defense
National Investment Project Review Center
Price Monitoring Center
International Cooperation Center
Center for Reform and Development of Cities and Small Towns
Price and Cost Research Center
Belt and Road Initiative Promotion Center
Innovation-Driven Development Center (Digital Economy Research and Development Center)
National Energy Conservation Center (National Development and Reform * Commission Energy Conservation Information Dissemination Center)
National Geospatial Information Center
National Public Credit Information Center
Business Environment Development Promotion Center
Xi Jinping Economic Thought Research Center
China Development and Reform Press
China Economic and Business Magazine
Editorial Department of Macroeconomic Management
Editorial Department of China Economic and Trade Guide
National Development and Reform Commission Macroeconomics Magazine

Advisory and deliberative bodies

Academic Committee

Responsible social groups

China Economic System Reform Research Association
China Macroeconomics Society
Chinese Human Resources Development Research Association
China Center for International Economic Exchanges

Directly affiliated enterprise units

China Planning Publishing House Co., Ltd.
China Market Publishing Co., Ltd.

Leadership